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The de‐acidification method has always been a hotspot in the research of paper‐based cultural relics conservation science. The existing de‐acidification methods are either not thorough enough or not easy to operate, requiring innovation and breakthrough. Moreover, the strength of the paper cannot be significantly improved by the simple de‐acidification treatment. To achieve the reinforcement of paper, another intervention process is often required, and each intervention may cause damage to the fragile paper cultural relics. This study introduces electrosorption deionization technology to the conservation treatment of paper cultural relics. Based on the electrosorption technology, an integrated treatment of paper de‐acidification and reinforcement was applied to sample papers using a composite electrolyte of de‐acidification and reinforcement materials and a self‐made electrosorption device. The experimental results show that both the de‐acidification and reinforcement effects on the paper samples obtained a significant promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the earliest surviving Tibetan paper, from the Dunhuang cave library, using paper fibre analysis combined with codicological, palaeographical and textual information. The hypotheses tested by this method concern the regional origins and production centres of early Tibetan paper and methods for dating this material. Using overlapping typologies, we classify a sample of manuscripts into coherent groups, relating them to particular 'book cultures'. By linking three main manuscript groups to different geographical regions, we offer new insights into an important manuscript collection, and show that the method of overlapping typologies has the potential to yield further insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and sixty-nine fibre samples from books in the Korean collection and 68 samples from books in the Japanese collection at the British Library were analysed. A further 15 samples of Korean paper from a private collection were also examined. The analysis confirmed that most of the papers contained mulberry species (Moraceae family) as the main papermaking material, and other materials, such as hemp, rice straw and reed, which have been commonly known as supplements to traditional Korean papermaking. However, 15 Korean papers and one Japanese paper dating betweenad 1498 and 1798 appeared to include coniferous wood fibres. This substantial find supports a previous single find of a coniferous wood fibre in Korean paper. The dates of most of these papers containing wood fibres precede the use of wood pulps in European paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before amalgamating published isotope data, comparability should be demonstrated. This paper compares carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of 30 enamel samples measured by two laboratories. The aims were to see what, if any, isotopic variation was observed, to determine the causes as needed and to correct if possible. Bioapatite was acidified at 90°C in 2006 and at 26°C in 2017, while δ values were corrected via one‐point normalization in 2006 and by two‐point normalization in 2017. One case (of the 30) produced different δ values between the analysis dates, suggesting contamination. Repeated carbon isotope ratio measurements were not meaningfully different. Repeated oxygen isotope ratio measurements were significantly different, even following correction for acid‐carbonate fractionation at different temperatures and the renormalization of 2017 δ values using one point; however, differences were not meaningful for interpretations. Results were used to calculate real interpretative differences (RIDs) for comparing enamel bioapatite as 0.6‰ for δ13C values and as 1.6‰ for δ18O values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, correction fluid to mask text errors has been continuously in demand since papers began to be predominantly used since the late fourth century AD in ancient China. However, research on the trajectory of correction fluid composition has been largely overlooked and has not been revealed currently. In this study, a multianalytical approach was used to investigate a thin whiteout layer, used as correction fluids applied in 1890, on a book page from the famous Imperial Encyclopedia (1726 bronze‐type repaint version). The results showed that the white layer was composed of hydrocerussite ((PbCO3)2·Pb (OH)2) in mixture with plant oil and a tiny portion of calcium carbonate, which had been applied to conceal the originally printed Chinese characters upon which they were rewritten in preparing photographic negatives for reprinting using photolithography. The analysis results also suggest that lead white was likely domestically made using a local lead ore source by the wet synthetic process. Considering the prolonged use of orpiment (As2S3) as a correction fluid ingredient in Chinese tradition, a trajectory to lead white suggests not only advances in pulping and papermaking technology but also a shift in cultural habits and aesthetic psychology in the late Qing Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial for the Special Issue of Archaeometry 'Tackling Recycling in the Past'. The practice of recycling has undoubtedly become one of the most important strategies to build a long‐term sustainable society in the modern world. However, both the perception and practice of recycling can be traced back to prehistory through various archaeological records. Objects made of stone, jade, mortar, textiles, pottery and bones display evidence of physical reshaping and repair, as do objects of metal and glass. Metal and glass, moreover, are materials which can be melted and recast, freeing ancient people from the limitations of the physical form of the original object. Illustrating and understanding patterns of recycling and the underlying social organization can significantly advance our knowledge of ancient people, their economic, political and cultural motivations for recycling, as well as the broad interaction between the social and material world. Though the issue of recycling is not novel in the discussions and debates of the archaeological circle, new theoretical frameworks, methodologies and archaeometric data encourage us to revisit the topic in this special issue. In this editorial, we consider what recycling means in the past, and why these papers are vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 112 waterlogged archaeological wood samples of different provenances, wood species, burial times and states of preservation were analysed with the aim of assessing the validity (in terms of limits and reliability) of procedures conventionally used in the pulp and paper industry, to evaluate the state of preservation of decayed wood. In particular, the extent of any damage wrought on decayed wood tissue by the repetitive cycles that characterize these procedures was evaluated as a function of the degradation of the samples. The results indicated that standard methodologies give reliable measurements regardless of the extent of wood decay. However, it is essential to compare these data with those of non-decayed wood that has been measured using the same procedures to take account of the errors that are inherent in these methodologies and that affect measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this study is unusual for both its material and technique. It is an oil painting on sheets of paper glued to a canvas made of linen fibres, thereby showing some execution peculiarities. It depicts the Virgin of Thessalonica in a hieratic attitude. The painting is attributed to the Salento‐born artist Giuseppe Verrio (1639) for the church of the Theatine religious Order in Lecce, Italy, in which it is still placed, on the left altar of the transept. To truly understand and appreciate a work of art, it is important to have a basic knowledge of the materials and techniques used by the artist. For a better understanding of the execution techniques and to study the original materials and those that have been added over time, the painting was examined using the following analytical techniques: microscopic examination of cross‐sections, μ‐Raman spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (Py‐GC‐MS). The data indicate that Verrio used different earthy, mineral and manufactured pigments, an organic dye used only on the paper, oil as a binder, and varnish as a protectant. The results demonstrate that the latter are both original and due to a subsequent restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of ceramics from Northwest China from the Neolithic and Bronze Age (c. 3300–600 BCE), providing insights into variations in human–ceramic interactions over time and space. Based on macroscopic and petrographic analysis of ceramics from 10 sites, this paper shows that there is much more complexity in ceramic technology than previously thought. It identifies a development from a bi‐modal distinction between painted fine ware and rusticated coarse wares shared among communities across Northwest China to strongly localised ceramic traditions with new fabrics, vessel shapes, and decorations, some of them potentially of outside origin, reflecting considerable societal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of six coins from Ithaca in the British Museum collection has been analysed using a bench Bruker Artax X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer on a polished surface. The coins can be stylistically divided into two variants. The analysis highlighted that the two variants are chemically different, with one suspected of being a modern forgery. The first records of coins stylistically similar to the ones suspected of being forgeries are dated to the 19th century. This paper hypothesises that these suspected forgeries have been produced by an expert forger remelting other, more common, ancient coins. We suggest that the forger was an expert smith and also a numismatist and/or antiquarian who was possibly aware of the most recent studies dedicated to the chemical composition of ancient coins. This paper presents the hypothesis that the forger may have melted ancient coins or other artefacts to produce modern forgeries with an 'ancient' composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An invitation by the editorial team of this special edition is the genesis of this paper. It considers how actions such repair, reuse, adaption, and recycling are identified, and understood, with respect to wooden things found in the archaeological record. An exhaustive review is not possible in a paper of this size, so instead a range of examples, across time and space, are selected to discuss these themes and to act as a catalyst for further thought. Woodland, and its entangled relationships with people, inevitably provides a background rhythm, allowing for a reflection on how we consider trees, their mutability, and the many lives of wooden things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the lithologies used in the stone products of Neviodunum (modern Drnovo in Slovenia), a Roman municipium in south‐western Pannonia. For this purpose, 95 stone monuments were assessed. Petrographic and biostratigraphic analyses were carried out on 56 archaeological and 57 geological samples. Our research shows that, besides some rare exceptions, most stone products refer to three lithostratigraphic units: the Middle Miocene ‘Lithothamnium’ Limestone Member of the Laško Formation, the Upper Cretaceous Krško Formation and the Early Jurassic Krka Limestone Member of the Podbukovje Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the composition of various chemical elements in ancient nephrite artifacts due to prolonged burial are critical factors that should not be underestimated. However, the increasingly stringent heritage management has made many techniques impractical. Consequently, portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) has become an indispensable nondestructive field analysis method. This paper aims to make use of the pXRF dataset to distinguish which elements tested are endogenous or exogenous, as well as to gauge which elements have been affected by stronger burial effects. More specifically, we carry out this work on the example of 103 pieces of nephrite excavated from different cemeteries in the Nanyang area. In addition to traditional statistical techniques, a new tool, the concentration‐number (C‐N) fractal method can shed new light on the analysis of the distribution patterns of different elements in excavated nephrite. The anomalous boundaries generated by the method have clear geochemical significance and can be delineated between background zone and disturbed regions. The degree of resistance of different elements to fluctuations in external factors was assessed, which has a direct relationship with the content of the buried soil. Considering the richness of the model, it has the potential to be used in archaeometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines newly acquired and previously published carbon and nitrogen isotope values in bone collagen from 58 dogs (Canis familiaris) dated to the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition. Using the Bayesian mixing model FRUITS, we estimate the marine or freshwater dietary fractions. These estimates, together with a radiocarbon‐based Bayesian statistical model, have allowed us to calculate the freshwater reservoir age for selected Danish regions. The Ertebølle and Funnel Beaker cultures display different feeding traditions, and stable isotope values of dogs cannot be used as a direct proxy for reconstructing human diet, as the foodstuffs appear to have been subject to some deliberate differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This summary provides an overview of the career and contributions of Mark Pollard in the field of archaeological science. It highlights his achievements, collaborative spirit, and dedication to robust methodologies. The summary also mentions a celebration held in honor of Mark's retirement, as well as his role as the Managing Editor of the journal Archaeometry. It further discusses his contributions as an author, particularly his papers on XRF analysis and iron recycling. Overall, Mark's work has had a significant impact on the field of archaeological science, combining fundamental science with archaeological questions. [Extracted from the article]

In archaeology, strontium isotope analysis is developing into an efficient scientific technique for tracing the movement of prehistoric humans and animals. Determining the local bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr ratio range is the key to distinguishing whether the human or animal is indigenous to the local area. It has been shown that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the enamel of pigs can be an excellent sample to determine the range of local strontium isotope ratio at the site. However, pigs may not be all local at the site, and there is no special study on whether pigs' different ages and tooth types impact the local strontium isotope characteristics. In this paper, the tooth enamel of 19 pigs from the Zaoshugounao site for strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) by multicollector–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. There were no significant differences in 87Sr/86Sr ratios of local pigs at different months and different molar types, which did not affect the determination of the local strontium isotope standard. Based on the local strontium isotope ratio range (0.711056–0.711476), we found that five pigs were non‐local. The Jing and Wei river basins (in Guanzhong basin) and northern Shaanxi are likely sources of non‐pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multipronged scientific study of mortars and plasters of the so‐called Ginnasio in the Hellenistic–Roman city of Solunto (Sicily, Italy). A selection of 16 well‐contextualized samples was collected to represent different functions and building phases of this private house. The results show that a variety of locally available raw materials was used as aggregates and to produce binders. The diversity of raw materials' sources and production techniques identified in this study reveals the advanced technological knowledge of the builders of Solunto, indicating a complex relationship between the settlement's cityscape and its surrounding landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) organic residue analysis (ORA) of samples extracted from five Early Bronze Age ceramic bottles excavated at the archaeological site of Küllüoba in Anatolia (modern Turkey), and the first attempt at directly analysing the content of this category of products. Our results show that various types of liquid have been contained in different bottles and identify the presence of dicarboxylic and oleic acids with a large amount of palmitic acid in most samples, suggesting that they may have mostly contained a plant‐based oil. The presence of diterpenoids further shows the addition of ingredients such as conifer resin and other plant‐derived products. Overall, the analytical results presented here indicate the exchange of scented oils in Anatolia already during the late third millennium BCE. The different organic residue profiles contained in different samples also suggest a range of different recipes for these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over more than a century, several proposals have been made on the composition and technical features of the pictorial recipes used by Levantine prehistoric painters. In this paper all these proposals are surveyed and tested through systematic experiments to determine the technical affordance of pigments and binders in different pictorial recipes. Experimental results were then used as independent analytical parameters employed as diagnostic criteria to systematically study an archaeological sample of nine sites located in the Maestrazgo region (Spain) and their surroundings. Results reveal that out of 112 experimental recipes, only 16 afforded the production of paintings technically similar to Levantine rock art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coade stone has played a significant role in architectural and ornamental design since its inception in the early 18th century. It is well known that earlier, experimental, architectural stoneware products existed, but few of these have been studied in detail scientifically, and only one major analytical study of Coade stone has appeared in the literature. This paper presents a new spectroscopic analysis of Coade stone along with that of a newly discovered sample from Oxnead Hall in Norfolk where it known that Sir Clement Paston experimented with artificial stone in the late 16th century. The results demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate between the two variants on the basis of both the raw materials used and the different phases formed in their production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositional analysis has proved to be a powerful tool for investigating the recycling of transparent glass in the Roman and Byzantine periods. This paper expands the focus further to explore the recycling of coloured and opaque glass in the Late Iron Age and Roman periods in Britain. A review of the findings to date, predominantly for beads and bangles, illustrates how a combination of methods is needed to identify when coloured glass has been recycled and altered in the past. Chemical analysis, microstructural examination and experimentation have been used to understand how coloured glass was mixed, diluted, and modified with novel colourants and opacifiers, in ways that are not apparent from non‐destructive chemical analysis alone. The paper discusses the possible types and sources of trade glass, the challenges of recycling mono‐ and polychrome glass in different colours, and the unconventional methods used by glassworkers on the periphery of Roman influence to extend and modify coloured glass to produce distinctive items in order to express their identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ancient Mediterranean, large ceramic storage containers known as dolia, which ranged in capacity from 150 to over 1,000 liters, were important farm equipment for the storage of wine, olive oil, and other foods. Because they are often poorly preserved, little is known about how they were made, much less the scale of their production. This paper draws on data from Pompeii to discuss how mathematical modeling can help us estimate their capacities and weight, and thus what their production and procurement entailed. The paper presents methods adaptable for a range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to verify the hierarchy of towns in Lower Silesia on the basis of population data from the second decade of the 17th century, assuming that a statistically described distribution law applies. The analysis of the city size distribution was based on Gibrat's law and Zipf's rank‐size rule. This made it possible to verify the assumptions made at the outset and to estimate the population of towns of unknown size and designated rank. The research carried out suggests a revision of the estimates, especially for the largest cities in the region, which tend to be underestimated. Studies have also shown that the method can be extremely useful for verifying uncertain and incomplete historical demographic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeometry had a slow start in the study of Amazonian and Caribbean ceramics, practiced almost exclusively by professionals outside of the archaeology discipline, primarily geologists, physicists and chemists, but is now slowly gaining track among archaeologists. In this paper, we summarize the archaeometric research done in the last thirty years in ceramics from the Amazon and Caribbean regions, emphasizing its main questions, aims and future developments for archaeometry in Latin America. Archaeometric studies are a growing field of research and improve understanding of past networks, technological knowledge and cultural traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we review the three natural contaminants (arsenic, boron, and lithium) that affected the ancient Andean populations of northern Chile. We debate the natural setting and the toxicity of these elements upon ancient populations exposed and their biocultural significance. This review demonstrates that recent advances in sensitive analytical atomic and mass spectrometry methods have immensely contributed to understanding the extent of exposure to geogenic metal (loid)s by ancient Andeans using well preserved tissues such as hair, bones, and teeth. In addition, the synthesized evidence shows that ancient Atacama Desert populations were significantly affected simultaneously by multiple potentially toxic chronic endemic regional hydro contaminants. Last, we suggest that future archaeometric and archaeological analysis need to consider ancient multicontaminants as an important factor when analyzing diet and health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes and identifies the binders used in the jewel settings of the Baodian and Diexie belts excavated from the tomb of Murongzhi in Wuwei, Gansu, China. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the presence of protein in the binder samples. The result of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) shows that samples from both contained hydroxyproline, a characteristic amino acid for animal glue. Principal component analysis was performed on one of the samples, and it was concluded that the binder was a mixture of hide glue and egg glue. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) and laser Raman spectroscopy (Raman) found that a red particulate matter visually identified in the binder was cinnabar, which was apparently added to binder in order to modify the color of the jewels. This study provides a basis for the conservation and restoration of future finds of elite jewelry. It also shows how imperial jewelry was made during the Tang Dynasty. Finally, the analysis of these heraldic belts provides a key insight the life and role of an exiled prince in the Tang court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is tempting in material sourcing analyses to treat chemical data primarily as numbers to be sorted, while disregarding their interlinked geochemistries. Consideration of geochemistry, however, often leads to the drawing of more nuanced and reliable conclusions. In this paper we re‐examine data published in 2020, related to the sourcing of stone #58 at Stonehenge, paying attention to geochemistry. We question the potential single‐source interpretation of these data and suggest instead that three to six sources cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic residue analysis (ORA) studies residual anthropogenic organic molecules within archaeological matrices, offering valuable insights into various research inquiries. Despite the development of ORA in Latin America, its significance remains largely unrecognised and underrepresented. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution, status, and prospects of ORA in Latin America. To achieve this, we conducted a thorough bibliographic survey and analysed contributions related to topics such as foodways, psychoactive consumption, the utilisation of paints, dyes, adhesives, binders, activity areas, and residue radiocarbon dating. We examine the geographical distribution of the studies, the flow between countries of sample origin and destination for ORA, and the chronological development in publications. We address challenges encountered in the production of ORA data in Latin America and emphasise the need for multiproxy and multi‐analytical approaches to characterise and identify robust biomarker sets to investigate the use and circulation of local commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aoristic analysis is often used to handle chronological uncertainties of datasets where scientific dates (e.g., 14C and OSL) are unavailable, and observations are described by association to archaeological periods or phases. Although several advances have been made over the last 2 decades, the basic principle of this approach remains fundamentally the same. Temporal windows of analyses are first divided into regularly sized time blocks, and probability weight is assigned to each of these for every observation. Weights are then aggregated by time block, and the resulting vector of summed probabilities is interpreted as a curve representing changes in the intensity over time of a particular phenomenon. This paper reviews the basic principles and assumptions of aoristic analyses in archaeology, highlighting several issues with its application and interpretation, advocating for a Bayesian alternative implemented via baorista, a new package written in R statistical computing language. The robustness of the proposed solution is evaluated through a series of experiments based on simulated datasets, which showcase key advantages over aoristic analysis. Two specific solutions are considered: a parametric approach where data are fitted to specific growth models and a nonparametric approach that allows for the visualisation of the changing frequencies of events, accounting for sampling error and the peculiarities of archaeological periodisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although evaluating developmental stress is challenging, it is critical to understanding phenotypic adaptation and differentials in morbidity and mortality related to spatiotemporal variation in environmental and cultural factors. This paper presents a new, reproducible, and reliable geometric morphometric (GM) protocol through which stress‐induced deviations to symmetry, known as fluctuating asymmetry (FA), can be robustly quantified. A case study, in which maternally mediated early‐life stress in human skeletal remains is explored through first permanent molar (M1) FA, illustrates the method's effectiveness and wide‐ranging potential to revolutionise the investigation of themes such as stress intensity, developmental processes, and buffering mechanisms in past populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Nile Valley offers exceptional environmental conditions that allow the preservation of organic materials, including textiles. This paper presents the results of the analysis of 17 samples collected from wool, cotton, and silk textiles excavated in the ancient capital of Old Dongola from layers dated to the 17th and 18th centuries CE. Chemical analysis using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) have identified both plant and animal dyes. Locally produced textiles, mostly from wool and decorated with blue, green, orange, and yellow hues, were dyed with woad (Isatis tinctoria), flavonoid plants, and madder‐type roots, which were already known and used by medieval dyers in that area. For the first time, kermes (Kermes vermilio) and lac‐dye (Kerria species) have been also identified as a dye source in samples from this group. Imported fabrics, of cotton and silk, were dyed blue with woad (I. tinctoria) but also with indigo (Indigofera tinctoria); dyer's broom (Genista tinctoria) and kermes (K. vermilio) were other dyes identified in this second group. The results of this study provide the first dye identification for textiles produced in the 17th–18th c. Sudan and contribute new data to the research on textile production and trade in post‐medieval Sudan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Salado and Verde streams constitute the two main seasonally available freshwater courses that flow into the Atlantic coast of the Río Negro province (continental Patagonia, Argentina, 42° South). This would have favored their use in the past as corridors for human circulation between the coast and the interior. This paper presents the results of the technomorphological and geochemical analyses of the obsidian artifacts recovered in the area to constrain mobility. The results allow us to propose the existence of toolkit reconditioning or replacement activities, and the identification of different sources of provenance of the obsidians (Sacanana, Telsen, and Portada Covunco, distant up to 800 km from the study area), reinforcing the hypothesis of a coast–inland circulation, with the possible existence of circuits of exchange of this raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results from analysis of thirty 12th to 13th century glass bangles from Czermno, eastern Poland. Study of the primary glass composition was carried out by laser ablation ICP‐MS and electron probe microanalysis. Lead isotope analyses were conducted to determine the origin of the glass's main raw material. Two types of lead glass were distinguished, high‐lead glass and Slavic lead ash glass, both of which were common in Central and Eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages. Isotopic investigations show that the lead flux for the Slavic glass likely came from the Cracow–Upper Silesia region in southern Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of analyses of metal artefacts discovered at a multiphase site in Nowe Brzesko, Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland. Fieldwalking prospection led to the discovery of steely iron objects, ploughed out on the site among other numerous archeological finds. A prospecting sondage yielded more corroded metal artefacts, identified mainly as agricultural tools (e.g. sickles, scythes). These chronologically nondistinctive artefacts could be assigned to the third to fourth century AD using radiocarbon dating, complemented by metallurgical analysis. The results open up new research perspectives on the economy and society of the Przeworsk culture in the Late Roman period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inlays range among the most aesthetically pleasing and technically challenging glasses produced in the Ptolemaic period. Despite the central role of this phase in the history of glass technology, little is known about the recipes and the technological knowledge of the Egyptian artisans. This paper will thus focus on the study of the materials from the secondary workshop of Tebtynis (Fayum oasis, Egypt). We report the first multi‐methodological study comprising textural, chemical, and mineralogical analyses (optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive system, electron probe microanalysis, and μ‐Raman spectroscopy) on a set of 81 colorless, white, blue, and green samples carefully selected among the 800+ glasses from the craft area now stored at the Museo Egizio, Turin (Italy). Our study offers the biggest compositional database of well‐dated Ptolemaic glasses currently available in the literature, highlighting some interesting novelties regarding the silica and alkali sources, and the coloring and opacifying techniques employed. The results suggest a specialized craft of traditional origin, but open to innovation and experimentation, as expected from transitional phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christian Nubia was a region with intensive transcultural connections that are visible through the understudied overseas glass bead imports found there. This paper presents the results of an analysis of 20 glass beads from Banganarti, a Christian pilgrim site active during the Makuria kingdom (mid‐sixth to 14th centuries CE). Compositional analyses using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) have identified glass belonging to a number of broad compositional groups. Two beads were made of mineral soda‐lime glass, dated before the mid‐ninth century CE. Numerous beads were made from plant ash‐soda‐lime glass associated with "Mesopotamian" production dated between the eighth and 10th centuries CE. Lead‐soda‐silica glass has parallels in the ninth–10th centuries glass found in Africa and Europe. One plant ash‐soda‐lime bead was of eastern Mediterranean origin dated after the 10th century CE. Results of this study provide new evidence for provenance and chronology of glass beads available in the mediaeval Northeast Africa as well as contribute new data to the research on the pilgrim and/or trade routes of that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi play a critical role in the deterioration of ancient papyri due to their organic and hygroscopic nature. Fourteen fungal species belonging to five genera—Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Talaromyces, and Ulocladium—were isolated and identified from 20 Egyptian papyrus artifacts located at the Grand Egyptian Museum—Conservation Center (GEM‐CC). The biodeterioration mechanism was evaluated by two analyses: cellulase enzyme activity and acid production assay. The isolated fungus P. lanosum showed potent biodeterioration power as it exhibited the highest enzymatic activity and could produce acid as well. Four different analyses were performed to assess the entity of the biodeterioration phenomenon: scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, colorimetry, and pH measurements. The analyses demonstrated considerable changes in surface morphology, chemical structure (mainly represented by oxidation and hydrolysis of infected papyrus samples), darkness of the papyrus samples (ΔE 3.84–7.33), and pH (which dropped to 5.2 in the case of A. niger‐infected sample. This article builds a preliminary perception for monitoring the biodeterioration of archaeological papyri and a trial for in vitro treatment to prevent further degradation, which may lead to loss of our valuable artifacts over a prolonged period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of Chinese ceramics culminated during the Song dynasty. At this time, exquisite celadon works emerged, such as Ru Guan celadon and Southern Song dynasty official kiln celadon, which exhibited the glory of their era. Since the excavation of Zhanggongxiang kiln celadon in Ruzhou city, Henan province, China, it has been attracting widespread scholarly attention at home and abroad. Most scholars have suggested that Zhanggongxiang is the official kiln of the Northern Song dynasty. In this paper, taking the celadon unearthed from the Zhanggongxiang kiln as a sample, the combination of laser Raman spectrum and thermal expansion methods is used to study the inheritance relationship between Zhanggongxiang celadon and Ru Guan celadon in the firing process. Meanwhile, the rationality of using Raman Ip value to evaluate the firing temperature of ceramics is reviewed. The main conclusions are as follows. First, the firing temperature of Zhanggongxiang celadon with various glaze colours is quite different, whereas the firing temperature of the same glaze colour is similar, thereby inheriting the firing technology of Ru Guan porcelain. Second, the Ip value of glaze cannot evaluate the firing temperature of porcelain with similar firing temperature. The Ip value corresponds to a range, within which it does not fully conform to the rule that the larger the Ip value, the higher the firing temperature. The Ip value is also associated with the formulation in addition to firing temperature. It is applicable to evaluating porcelains with a similar formulation but a large temperature difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents for the first time chemical data on the ancient (Antiquity period) marble quarries of Delos Island and some architectural marbles from its famous and exceptionally well‐preserved archaeological site. Delos geological substratum is mostly composed of granite, including very few decametric marble enclaves. However, ancient Delian architecture is dominated by gneiss and marbles. A large quantity of marble had thus to be imported from neighbouring Cycladic Islands and continental Greece. Their provenances remain mostly unknown. Several analytical methods have been developed in archaeometry for years to determine the origin of marbles, but they are generally destructive. This paper reports a methodology based on a hand‐held portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyser to detect major and trace elements often used in provenance studies. Drawbacks of using those elements for marble provenance and analytical limitations attached to portable instruments were frequently discussed. Here the usefulness of pXRF for marble provenance research was tested in association with principal component analysis (PCA). Two artefacts of presumed Delian origin were selected and the results showed that one of them came undoubtedly from a Delian quarry while the other one was not of local origin. This protocol appeared to be a powerful tool when conventional destructive analyses are precluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glazed ceramics are a common material analyzed through geochemistry, whether in the form of tableware collected during excavations or tiles observed as part of architectural features. Within the framework of these studies, measuring the thickness of the transparent glaze is one of the useful variables available for the characterization of the ceramic, contributing to searches for provenance as well as serialization. However, this task often requires invasive methods performed in the laboratory, which may not always be possible. This paper develops a non‐invasive and portable on‐site system for measuring the thickness of ceramic glazes. Based on the depth from focus technique, this method makes use of a classical camera, a macroscopic lens, a translation stage, and a laptop for system control. In this article, we test this method through the measurement of glaze for ten samples as compared to results obtained for sections through scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the archaeometric analysis of the greco scritto marble slabs from the Edificio dei Triclinii, an inn or statio negotiatorum discovered at Murecine in Pompeii's suburbs in 1999–2000. A total of 14 samples were collected and subjected to standard X‐ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) on thin sections and stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) to assess the stone's identity and provenance. The results of this study substantiate the hypothesis (already put forward and based on a macroscopic identification by Perna and Scognamiglio) that the stone originates from the Hasançavuşlar quarries near Ephesus in Asia Minor, and represent the first step towards a systematic contextual and geochemical study of Ephesian greco scritto in Roman contexts and its respective contribution to the Roman stone trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will present and discuss a multifaceted research project dealing with the production of cooking pots during the Iron Age II (ca. 1,000–586 BCE) Judah (modern Israel). In particular the new compositional analysis of 541 cooking vessels from 11 sites in Iron Age Judah will be presented. The study employs petrographic and chemical (NAA) analysis. The results of this ongoing research have already produced interesting information about production centers and movements of cooking pots in Iron Age II Judah. Apparently, the vast majority of the cooking pots sampled were made of a similar type of clay, related to terra rossa soil. This is true also for sites in the northern Negev and Judean Desert, where the type of soil was not available in the region of the sites. Furthermore, many of the cooking pots distributed around Judah were made in Jerusalem according to a well‐located chemical profile (JleB). Other groups may represent Judean Shephelah production centers as the Lachish area as well as production centers in southern Israel or ancient Edom. The implications of the importation patterns of cooking pots by peripheral Judean sites will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this brief response to Sun et al.’s ( ) comments on our paper, we re‐emphasize that archaeological, chemical and isotopic evidence are all relevant to the discussion about the metal source of the Shang period with highly radiogenic lead isotope ratios. The southern African bronzes have much lower lead contents and quite different lead isotopic signatures than the Shang bronzes. More importantly, there was no metallurgy of any kind in southern Africa before c.200 ce, so southern Africa cannot possibly be the source of Shang bronze, which date to about 1500 to 1000 bce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When alloy composition information is sought across a single large artefact assemblage, how well do handheld methods solve the problem of museum environments which restrict the movement of artefacts and destructive sampling, and which have limited in‐house technical resources? The usefulness of relatively low‐cost handheld analytical instruments still needs evaluating in such arenas. The potential advantages which handheld laser‐induced breakdown spectrometry (HH‐LIBS), with its affordability, speed and micro‐destructive corrosion‐penetrating ability, might offer over handheld X‐ray fluorescence (HH‐XRF)/portable X‐ray fluorescence (pXRF) in large intra‐assemblage comparisons of broad copper alloy composition were examined and reported on by the present study (tin and lead being the elements of interest). The context was an archaeological study in a major Greek museum, aimed at exploring the social and economic significance of alloying choice at a single large representative site of the Bronze–Iron transition, c.1200 bc. Archaeological interpretations are presented in another paper, with the alloying patterns/choices identified only being outlined in the present paper. The results of the methods comparison described suggest that HH‐LIBS has potential, but that HH‐XRF, despite its variable limitations in relation to penetrating corrosion (discussed here), is still the most reliable method for work in such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a pilot study using lead isotope analysis to source native copper in the Lake Superior Basin. Forty Pb isotope samples are sampled from native copper deposits across the Lake Superior Basin and analyzed via MC‐ICP‐MS at Indiana University's Metal Isotope Lab. The result of this analysis demonstrates that there is a significant overlap between Pb signatures of native copper sources within the Lake Superior Basin. As a result, lead isotope analysis is not recommended as an alternative for sourcing native copper within the Lake Superior Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to testing Kohonen self‐organising maps, with elliptic Fourier coefficients as quantitative variables, for the task of morphological classification of fragmented and non‐standardised ceramics. The advantage of the methodology used is its ability to account for the systematic statistical relationships inherent in the dataset, build models of varying degrees of generalisation and visualise multivariate data. The approbation of the method was carried out on materials from the Hlyboke Ozero‐2 settlement in Eastern Ukraine. The results are compared with the results obtained using principal component analysis + k‐means clustering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The populations in Sumhuram (third/second century bce to fifth century ce) and Hamr al‐Sharqiya 1 (HAS1) (first millennium bce to first/second century ce) were involved in one of the most important examples of large‐scale trade systems in antiquity: the maritime network connecting the coasts of the Indian Ocean. This research focuses on a total of 35 southwestern Arabian and Indian pottery sherds from both the settlements of Sumhuram and Hamr al‐Sharqiya 1, analysed through a multi‐analytical complementary approach. This study intends to test the input potential of this type of approach applied to ceramics in the context of the Indian Ocean trade network. The techniques adopted are powder X‐ray diffraction, optical microscopy, inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The results obtained allow the identification of eight distinct groups, each characterized by unique (textural, mineralogical, geochemical) signatures, providing specific clues for determining their provenance, specifically from the Indian subcontinent and southwestern Arabia. This paper shows the importance of this type of archaeometric study that must be integrated into a transdisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]